Digital Health Interventions

Digital Health Interventions are amongst the most effective ways of improving health outcomes for communities and enriching individual lives. User-centred research methods ensure interventions are relevant, accessible, and effective.

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About the cluster Key researchers

About the cluster

Research within this cluster centres around the principles of self-management and person-centred approaches to behaviour change. We work closely with national and international stakeholders, e.g., patients, public, NHS, and charities, to understand their needs and co-design evidence-based digital solutions.

We combine theory-driven research, traditional methodologies, innovative techniques and AI to produce meaningful, practical healthcare solutions. Working with diverse stakeholders and communities, we adapt our research approaches to ensure cultural humility and principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in our methods and outputs.

Supported self-management empowers people to recognise, treat and manage their own physical and mental health conditions. Our research embeds techniques to help people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to do so. Key components of this approach include peer support, person-led goal setting, heath coaching and education, and self-compassion.

We work alongside people living with, and affected by a long-term condition, to co-develop personalised self-management support interventions for:

Cancer
Mental Health
Respiratory conditions
Musculoskeletal conditions
Reproductive, sexual and maternal health
Neurological conditions and acquired brain injury

Project list

Name	Project title	Project information
Dr Hayley Wright & Prof Andy Turner	Digital peer-supported and peer-led self-management of mental and sexual wellbeing for people with acquired brain injury (HOPE4ABI): a feasibility randomised controlled trial (NIHR203600; Nov 2022 – Oct 2024; £266k)	NIHR-funded project to co-design and test in a feasibility RCT, peer-supported vs self-directed digital support for mental and sexual wellbeing after ABI.
Prof Louise Moody & Prof Andy Turner	HoPES (Hope and Prepare Effectively for Surgery): Personalised self-management for managing hip and knee replacement wait lists (Innovate UK SBRI; £330K; March 2023 – March 2024)	This project addresses the Healthy Ageing Challenge by developing and implementing the HoPES (Hope and Prepare Effectively for Surgery) self-management digital intervention to keep older adults socially connected, in better mental health and physically active as they wait for knee or hip surgery.
Dr Carol Percy	The digital peer led Hope self-management programme of mental wellbeing for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (Hope PCOS): a mixed methods feasibility randomised controlled trial (Child Development Fund Research Grant from the Waterloo Foundation, 1423-5084; £58K; May 2023 – May 2024)	This project aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures for a definitive RCT of Hope PCOS. The primary objective is to test: recruitment and refusal rates, retention and engagement, acceptability, and any adverse events. The secondary objective is to address potential intervention efficacy via post-intervention changes in participants’ quality of life and mental wellbeing.
Dr Laura Wilde	The Co-Wise COPD study: Co-creating information on using wearables for supported self-management with people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and healthcare practitioners (CU-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship; 2023–2025	This project aims to co-create information and guidelines for people with COPD and healthcare practitioners on using wearables for supporting self-management to address the gap between healthcare practice and the utilisation of commercial activity monitors to support the self management of COPD.

Cluster leads

Dr Hayley Wright

My research background is in cognitive psychology, and I have interests in neuropsychology, neuroscience and psychosocial outcomes after acquired brain injury (ABI). My recent work has focussed on cognitive ageing, sexual wellbeing and cognitive function in older adults, and peer-supported self-management of long-term conditions including acquired brain injury (ABI), cancer and Long COVID. I am PI on an NIHR-funded project developing and testing a digital programme to support sexual wellbeing after ABI.

Prof Andy Turner

I have 25+years of research experience in self-management for long-term conditions, and an international track-record of developing and evaluating digital interventions for psychological wellbeing. I am the co-founder of The Hope Programme and non-executive director of Hope For The Community CIC (H4C). I am the UK lead on international RCT investigating remote monitoring and self-management for cardiovascular patients, and co-PI on the NIHR-funded HOPE4ABI project.